Manyin having his Body Mass Index checked after the launch.
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Local womenin traditional Bidayuh costumes are among those attending the function.
Pangkalan Amo Health Clinic Panel Of Advisors chairman Robert Jawas (left) receives his appointment letter from Manyin, as Sinde (third right) and Dr Norashikin look on.
TEBEDU: Serian will finally function as a full-fledged administrative division of the state this Oct 1 with the official appointment of its first Resident.
Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin said the ceremony in Serian would see the official handover of duties from the Residents of Kuching and Samarahan.
He pointed out that such ceremony was necessary as Serian – which was announced as the state’s 12th and newest administrative division on April 11 – was carved out from Kuching and Samarahan divisions.
He also revealed the Oct 1 function would also see the appointment of the first district officer for Tebedu, which was elevated to a full district status also on April 11.
“The ceremony will be witnessed by myself and State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Ghani, and attended by community leaders from Serian Division.
“The Resident will be a Bidayuh, while the district officer for Tebedu will be from the Punans or Penans, which is special for us,” he told reporters after launching the ‘I Want Sihat’ programme at Kampung Temong Putah yesterday, conducted by the Health Department.
He also explained the offices of Serian Resident and his deputies would be temporarily housed at Serian District Office until the completion of their own office block this December.
In response to a question, Manyin did not deny the possibility of Serian having its own Walikota, who would be appointed at a much later date.
He also mentioned that for now, Serian District Council would be the sole local authority for Serian Division, which covers the districts of Serian and Tebedu as well as the sub-district of Siburan.
On a related matter, Manyin announced the Health Ministry had agreed to build a Level-4 government clinic here.
“Assistant Minister of Public Health Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, state Health Department director Datu Dr Zulkifli Jantan and I went to meet Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam in Kuala Lumpur recently for this proposal, and he (Dr Subramaniam) agreed.
“The government clinic, to be headed by a doctor, will have its own X-Ray Unit. It will serve people of Tebedu so they need not travel all the way up to Serian or Kuching anymore (for treatment).”
Manyin, who is Tebedu assemblyma, also disclosed plans to set up a Fire and Rescue Department station here.
“Both the proposed clinic and station would be in Bandar Mutiara – the nerve centre of Tebedu,” he added. Meanwhile, Manyin saw the efforts on holding the ‘I Want Sihat’ programme as one that could raise awareness of health among the people.
He said modern lifestyle and use of chemical input in agriculture had led to more people suffering from cancer and other non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.
The event yesterday was also attended by Serian district officer Sinde Muling, Serian district health officer Dr Sharifah Norashikin Wan Ahmad and local community leaders.